“Italian food is all about ingredients and it’s not fussy and it’s not fancy.” – Wolfgang Puck Many of us dream about having a delicious bowl of handmade pasta topped with an equally tasty tomato sauce and generous shavings of parmigiano-reggiano cheese in our hands as we overlook a vast and beautiful Italian vineyard. It […]

“Italian food is all about ingredients and it’s not fussy and it’s not fancy.”
– Wolfgang Puck

Many of us dream about having a delicious bowl of handmade pasta topped with an equally tasty tomato sauce and generous shavings of parmigiano-reggiano cheese in our hands as we overlook a vast and beautiful Italian vineyard. It has always been a dream for me, at least, to spend a month or two immersing myself in the food culture of Italy. While that dream trip has to be put on hold for now, I’ve been educating myself on Italian food and how to nail the perfect bolognese and to share with you what I’ve learnt.

Why go through all the trouble, you may ask. You see, Italian food to me is akin to Malay food – I don’t eat it if it’s not homemade. The best rendang to me is still my mother’s and there’s no way I can ever cheat on my mother’s rendang. I have never set afoot on Italy but Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, and my sister (because of her own love for Italian food) has set the standard for what Italian food is to me.

So here’s a question I often get from friends who ask me along to dine at non-halal Italian food establishments –

“What’s not halal about Italian food? It’s just pizza, pasta and a lot of tomato sauce!”

Like Wolfgang Puck says, Italian food is really about good quality ingredients with nothing fancy. The holy trinity of Italian food is essentially tomatoes, olive oil and basil. I mean, it all comes from vegetable sources so what can possibly be non-halal about that?

Sit down, hold on tight, because you’re about to get schooled!

Components of Italian Food to Consider

For the purposes of this article, we can say that most Italian food comprises of four different components – base, sauce, protein and cheese.

Pastas and Pizzas

Italian cuisine is built upon pastas and pizza, and since these two sources of carbohydrates have low risk halal factors, there’s no need for you to worry. However, not all pastas are of low risk halal factors. Filled pastas like raviolis and tortellini sometimes have meat or cheese fillings which may not be permissible for someone with a halal diet.

Margherita Pizza from Kucina Italian

Sauces

Tomato-based sauces like pomodoro, aribiatta and marinara usually are of low risk as they only contain tomatoes, olive oil, and natural seasoning with herbs such as oregano and basil.

The only tomato sauce that has a high risk is the bolognese. Apart from the traditional tomato sauce, herbs such as basil, rosemary, garlic and onions are added to complement the deep and rich flavours of the choice of meat.

Traditional bolognese are served with a combination of ground beef and pork, and often use pancetta (an Italian bacon made of cured pork belly meat and spices) to enhance the flavour of the sauce. Occasionally, pancetta is substituted with beef or chicken stock. The risk factor for bolognese is usually high because even if pork is not served as the main protein, traces of pork in the form of pancetta can be found. If non-halal meat were used to make the stock, the bolognese sauce would also be deemed not fit for a halal diet.

Watch us make our version of Bolognese with Handmade Pasta!

White sauces have a higher risk of not being halal as they are made with dairy products such as butter, cream and cheese. Alfredo sauce is made of butter and parmesan while carbonara comprises of eggs, hard cheese (e.g. parmesan) and bacon. It seems harmless to opt for a white sauce with your pasta or pizza but the reality is that these ingredients are of high risk for halal factors which we will discuss in the upcoming sections.

Protein

Chicken Ham from Porto Pantry (Zac Butchery)

One of the most confusing thing about Italian food or any other European cuisine is the multiple names of meat, specifically cured meat which mostly comes in a form of pork. Cured meat is more commonly known as deli meat, and they are usually served with bread, crackers and cheese as a quick meal. Since cured meat are well seasoned and spiced before the curing process, they are also used as flavour enhancers in cooking.

The list of cured pork meat is exhaustive, but Italian food mostly uses pancetta, ham, bacon, salami, pepperoni and chorizo. As a form of precaution, avoid dishes which contain the above mentioned items when you dine at non-verified halal places. These foreign names deserve an article on its own, but do understand that there are halal substitutes for these meat products which originate from swine. Local butcheries such as Zac Meat and The Meat Up sell halal certified turkey bacon, beef pepperoni, chicken salami, chicken ham, and beef chorizo.

Cheese

Parmesan wheels

The most popular topping for Italian food is none other than your favourite cheese. While it would be too exhaustive to explain how cheese is made (which means it deserves another post on its own!) you should be aware that hard cheeses like parmesan contain rennet. Rennet is an enzyme obtained from the stomach linings of mammals, traditionally the stomach of slaughtered newly-born calves.

Since rennet is derived from an animal, the animal needs to be slaughtered according to Islamic rites for the cheese to be deemed halal. As much as vegetarian and non-animal rennet are available for cheese production, cheese manufacturers are not legally obliged to indicate the source of rennet for their cheeses. Safe to say, stick to verified halal places for confirmed plus chop halal cheese!

Conclusion

There’s really too much to explain about what can not be halal with a certain cuisine, but I hope this article has served its purpose of educating you on how Italian food is traditionally made. With that in mind, we’re thankful to authentic Italian restaurants which are verified halal because there’s definitely a lot of thought process put into making sure the Italian dishes stay as authentic as possible!

]]>https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/whats-not-halal-italian-food/feed/05 ways to make use of those leftover dates from Ramadanhttps://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/5-ways-make-use-leftover-dates-ramadan/
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Save Those Dates! The month before Ramadan, all the grocery stores stock up on dates – Medjool, Ajwa and what-have-yous, forcing your family into this black hole of stocking up dates for your household. It would definitely be alright to purchase an entire carton of dates if your average consumption of dates per day […]

Save Those Dates!

The month before Ramadan, all the grocery stores stock up on dates – Medjool, Ajwa and what-have-yous, forcing your family into this black hole of stocking up dates for your household. It would definitely be alright to purchase an entire carton of dates if your average consumption of dates per day during Ramadan is approximately ten pieces. For most of us, two boxes would be enough for the entire family for a month.

Then comes the age old question: What do you do with the leftover dates once Ramadan is over? Don’t throw them out just yet because as long as they’ve been in the fridge and are bug-less, upcycle those dates for your next cooking session!

Sticky Date Pudding

This amazing recipe from Chef Mimi has been tried and tested so many times you’re guaranteed to get a perfect sticky date pudding each time you bake it. Don’t be afraid to get messy in the kitchen! While the salted caramel sauce might be daunting to first time bakers, the results are worth the hassle and effort.

Banana Date Smoothie

If you’re thinking of a fast and simple breakfast now that Ramadan is over and you’re back to rushing in the mornings before work or school, try this simple recipe hack for preparing your morning smoothies. Dates are a great source of energy and the added bananas will keep you full till lunch.

Moroccan Beef Stew with Couscous

The combination of sweet and savoury will always excite your palette and give an umami explosion in your mouth. Simply swap the dried apricots with your leftover dried dates, and this Moroccan beef stew is set to be the talking point of your dinner party during Eid.

Date Syrup

I know it’s not easy to go off sugar and have your morning coffee bitter and black. Substitute that sugar rush with a natural sweetener such as the date syrup. Made of only three ingredients, you can store this alternate sweetener in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Plus, this doubles up as a spread for your toast as well.

Dates Syrup: The perfect substitute to sugar for your morning coffee or oatmeal.

serves 2 cups / approx. 280 calories per 1 cup serve

Ingredients 20 normal dates
1 3/4 cup water
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Method

Place all ingredients in a blender and process for a few minutes until smooth and completely blended.

Start off slowing to allow the dates to break up initially, and then build up the speed.

Since it’s Syawal right now, three things are happening. You are either adjusting to the fact that you can eat again. via GIPHY Or, you are repaying your missed fasts. via GIPHY Or you are kind of tired of Hari Raya food of Rendang, Nasi Tomato, Sambal Udang. via GIPHY For those of us who […]

So we looked back at the news of eateries in Singapore turning halal in the month of Ramadan this year and compiled it in a list for your convenience! Some of them have been around for a long time but not permissible for Muslim consumption all these while, like The Halia, Twelve Cupcakes, Swissbake, Kraftwich by Swissbake, Fish & Chicks. Some of them are new kids on the block with halal-certification in mind from the beginning but due to the processes of acquiring the halal certificate, had to make us wait for the suspense, like Wok Hey and Dim Sum Place.

Whichever it is, we are really glad that there are more varieties and more eateries which are Halal-certified, which gives Muslims, both locals and tourists, more options to eat in Singapore!

Total number of eateries: 1

2. Wok Hey

Halal Certified on 13th Ramadan 1438H 8th June 2017.

Stir frying is their game. Choose your base- egg-fried rice, Shanghai fried rice, Ramen or Udon, then your main protein- either fresh prawns, grilled chicken or braised beef, then you can add a variety of toppings, from tobiko, chinese chicken sausages, sous vide egg, thai asparagus, edamame, capsicum, mushrooms, and more! The combination is endless and I’ve tried two variations of this already. My favourite is the Shanghai Fried Rice, and you should definitely ask for chilli.

Total number of eateries: 1

3. The Dim Sum Place

Halal-certified on 20th Ramadan 1438H, 15 June 2017.

We’ve been waiting for this place to get it’s Halal-certification since January! What to expect here: lots and lots of dimsums, and Peking Duck. They’re located just beside The Ramen Stall, so you can head over if you’d like some small bites! The Ramen Stall is also a sister restaurant. I’ve not eaten here yet but will surely try this sometime soon!

Total number of eateries: 1

5. Fish & Chicks

Halal-certified on 24 Ramadan 1438H, 19th June 2017

Fish & Chicks has been around for two and a half years and they have only recently became halal for Muslim Singaporeans! We can’t wait to try this especially because they have the best of two worlds- salted egg yolk and chilli crab sauces on their fish and chicken servings!

Total number of eateries: 2

5. Swissbake

Halal-certified on 21st Ramadan 1438H, 16 June 2017.

With three official cafes and over 50 other retail outlets via bread shelves and bakery corners housed in supermarkets like Cold Storage and Jasons, as well as their very own stand-alone bakery in Jurong Point.

Swissbake, just like its namesake, offers handcrafted, freshly baked goods. From authentic, European breads and buttery, flaky pastries, to luscious cakes and delightful party treats, they have got something for every palate. Delifrance has some competition now!

6. Kraftwich by Swissbake

Halal-certified on 21 Ramadan 1438H, 16 June 2017.

They are known for their circular sandwiches so big they look like pizza sandwiches, made of multigrain and maize bread, with wholesome fillings, but not bland or boring-looking. When you want one, the servers will cut a triangular slice for you, so it really does look like pizza!

Everytime I walk by the one at Central Mall at Clarke Quay after an appointment there I would drool at these sandwiches hoping that they would be halal one day so I could eat it. I think the last time I went there was just this Ramadan and so….Alhamdulillah Allah answered my prayers in these littlest of ways! (You’ve got to be thankful for the littlest things so that Allah can send you bigger blessings!) I’m now really okay with the fact that Subway is not halal since…. all six of Kraftwich’s branches are halal-certified now.

This is great news for those who are looking for a healthier and filling option for lunch on busy days because you can just grab a Kraftwich and go!

7. Twelve Cupcakes

Halal-Certified on 19 June 2017, 24th Ramadan 1438H.

We might have accidentally eaten one of it when a colleague or project mate bought it for work discussions or birthday parties without really caring about whether these cupcakes needed to be halal, and never knew that cupcakes needed to be halal until… they received their MUIS Halal Certification for all fifteen of their Singapore branches on 19 June, after five years of being in operation. Phew now we can go back to eating it with confidence. They still have one of the best cupcakes in Singapore to me, and on top of that it is a local brand that has expanded to over four countries! Here’s to hoping the branches in Taipei, Jakarta and Hongkong will also receive the Halal-certification in their respective countries!

Total number of eateries: 15

8. Commonground

Halal-certified on 23rd Shaaban 1438H, 19 May 2017.

Okay, Commonground received it’s halal-certificate just a week before Ramadan but I’m pretty sure it’s still new on your list of places to eat! Good for brunches and family outings, they serve everything from pizzas, platters, meats, sandwiches. That picky eater in your family will surely have an option, maybe even too many options! What’s really nice is that Commonground is in the heartlands but they have really exciting options like: Blue Cheese Pizza topped with Poached Pear, Ravioli Nachos, Affogato and many other options!

Get your FRIENDS with halalfoodhunt.com Rewards Card now! At only $18/year and unlock discounts at over 60 halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries including online e-commerce businesses in Singapore. For a full list of where you can enjoy your card, click here.

]]>https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/8-food-eateries-received-halal-certificate-past-ramadan-muslims-can-eat-now/feed/06 Reasons why it’s worth it to make the trip to The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens7https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/6-reasons-worth-make-trip-halia-singapore-botanic-gardens/
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On 1 June 2017, the Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens received its halal certification from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). This news was received well among the Muslim community in Singapore as The Halia at Botanic Gardens has been around for a long time. You can now bask in the beautiful lush greenery […]

On 1 June 2017, the Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens received its halal certification from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). This news was received well among the Muslim community in Singapore as The Halia at Botanic Gardens has been around for a long time.

You can now bask in the beautiful lush greenery of the gardens as you sip on a refreshing glass of Ginger Jive drink or tuck into delicious medium rare steak.

Here’s six reasons for you to make the trip to Halia Singapore Botanical Gardens, which serves European cuisine inspired by Asian flavours.

1. You are dining at a UNESCO World Heritage Site

First of all, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognises the Singapore Botanic Gardens as a World Heritage Site on 4 July 2015, making it the first tropical garden on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This certainly makes me feel proud to be a Singaporean.

Making The Halia a dinner or teatime destination gives you an excuse to take a long walk along around the gardens. Take this time to enjoy the fresh air for a change, away from the bustling city just outside the gates of the Gardens.

The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens

2. The Halia is the only food establishment with a Halal Certification in Singapore Botanical Gardens

3. Just like its name, The Halia uses ginger as an ingredient for most of the dishes… and drinks!

‘Halia’ means ‘ginger’ in Malay. If you don’t mind a little sting to your tastebuds, the taste of ginger in any of the food or drinks served here is very mild. Also, who knew chilled ginger-infused drinks taste so refreshingly good! Think ginger ale but more refined! If you don’t really like ginger, well what are you doing at a restaurant called ‘The Halia’ ???

Heavenly Halia (left) and Ginger Jive (right)

Rosemary’s Passion

Fresh Boston Bay Mussels with Coconut and Ginger Flower Broth

4. Halia’s Singapore Style Chilli-Crab Spaghettini is a to-die for

The Chilli Crab Pasta is probably the most relatable fusion dish when it comes to Asian-inspired European cuisine. Even though I’m allergic to crustaceans, which is any sea creature with legs that has an exoskeleton, I must say that this Chilli-Crab Spaghettini was cooked well enough for me not to taste the juice of the crab thus triggering my allergies. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you can’t taste the crab at all. Instead the flavour of the crab has blended nicely with the sauce which is rich with tomatoes yet still spicy enough to tingle your tastebuds. I so badly wanted to eat more but was too scared it would eventually trigger my allergy.

Halia’s Singapore Style Chilli-Crab Spaghettini

5. The Pan-Fried Barramundi is perfect for non-meat eaters

If you’re tired of salmon, calamari and prawns for you to choose from as a pescatarian (seafood-only diet), this glorious Panfried Barramundi served in Thai coconut cream, green asparagus, cherry tomato, pignolina, and basil oil will definitely have you wanting more. The barramundi, or Ikan Siakap, is cooked to perfection with its skin crispy and meat moist and juicy.

6. Awaken your tastebuds with their desserts

One of the most exciting desserts I had at The Halia was the Ginger Spice, All Things Nice. Essentially a coconut-based mousse infused with ginger, it’s topped with a dehydrated coconut flesh toasted lightly to give its nutty taste.

Only for the remaining days of Ramadan, enjoy a delicious sampling of the food at The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens when you dine for iftar. You can choose between the communal feasting menu for either 4 pax or 6 pax where you will be served all the dishes shown above. Otherwise, you can select from their ala carte menu if you’d prefer having a plate of amazing barramundi for yourself.

Get your FRIENDS with halalfoodhunt.com Rewards Card now! At only $18/year and unlock discounts at over 60 halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries including online e-commerce businesses in Singapore. For a full list of where you can enjoy your card, click here.

I’m writing this with all my non-muslim friends, clients and business partners in mind. This year has been an extremely challenging Ramadan for me and my team. In between the increased number of enquiries for marketing services and the many iftar invitations that we couldn’t attend, I do feel guilty for the missed opportunities to […]

I’m writing this with all my non-muslim friends, clients and business partners in mind.

This year has been an extremely challenging Ramadan for me and my team. In between the increased number of enquiries for marketing services and the many iftar invitations that we couldn’t attend, I do feel guilty for the missed opportunities to connect and meet new people.

One more additional thing to feel guilty for, are the delayed email responses and follow ups with present people that we are working with. I hope that this article, might shed more light on “Why are Muslims are so busy during Ramadan and why it’s so hard to contact us during this period.”

Before I begin, I want to introduce Islam as a religion whose followers do their best to follow everything that has been prescribed by God, as written in the Qur’an. The Qur’an prescribes many things for our lives, from what we eat (hence the concern for food that has to be halal for consumption) to what we wear, to our code of conduct, to how we pray, and how often we should do it.

There are a good many Muslims around (myself included) that are struggling to meet what the religion asks of us. The visible struggles that you see are the ones that occasionally compel you to ask me the tough questions when you do get a chance at a conversation with me in private.

“If alcohol is not halal, then why does my Muslim friends drink?”

“Why my friend never wear tudung?”

and the funniest one:

“I think my muslim friends are very naughty muslims.”
“Why?”
“They pretend to be Thai and pretend cannot speak English in order to order food and eat at the restaurant during fasting month.”

Haha!

There’s a beautiful phrase in the Qur’an that states that there can be no compulsion in our religion:-

“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.” (Quran, Al-Baqarah: 256), Yusuf Ali translation, from: https://quran.com/2/256-265

The willingness to follow religion must come from one’s own choice.

Since obedience and submission to a prescribed way of life cannot be forced, it then boils down to each individual to do their best to practise. So, in actuality, what we don’t see is the struggle of the heart. Sometimes the heart wants to follow, but the self feels like s/he is not ready to do so – each person faces their own unique set of challenges to overcome when it comes to the matters of the heart.

That then brings me to this question: Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” Source: (Quran: Al-Baqarah, 183) from https://quran.com/2/183

Just like how consuming or eating only halal food is a prescription for Muslims, fasting is also a prescription for us. This is to be done throughout the month of Ramadan for us to practise self-discipline and self-restraint. Naturally, this brings about a heightened consciousness of our beliefs, and along with that, a heightened remembrance of God and the afterlife (our eternal home).

This is the month where ‘rewards’ to be gained for our afterlife for every good deed is increased multi-folds. So we focus this month largely on prayers, family and charity. Just for this month, suddenly your naughty Muslim friends become slightly less naughty – myself included – haha!

What goes on in our day during Ramadan, how is it different from other months?

Our fast begins early in the wee hours of the morning.

In preparation for a day without food and drink, it is recommended that we wake up before dawn to eat, and hydrate ourselves. You might have seen an increase in the number of dates in circulation during this month for us to eat before we begin our fast and after we break our fast. Dates are like little powerful packets of energy released slowly throughout our body, helping us last the day. It is also the best food to introduce to our body after one day of not eating so as not to shock the body with food.

4.30am- 6am: The Pre-dawn Meal- Sahur

As Singapore has a pretty standard sunrise and sunset time, our schedule in Singapore is as follows:-

Check out how Singapore’s favourite footballer, Fandi Ahmad, and his family does their sahur (although we eat much more than just Milo I can tell you! haha), but that struggle to wake up is so real.

6am – 8 am: Getting to work

Some of us sleep after our pre-dawn prayers (because we are just so sleepy and tired), but we try not to sleep from 5.45am to the break of dawn (around 7am) and instead use those hours to read the Qur’an and pray to God for everything that we want in life.

After 7 am the day is pretty much normal, except for the part that we’re sleepy when we get to work because our day started at 4.30am. *yawns* If we happen to accidentally fall asleep at 6am, we may face the existential crisis of coming late for work. God forgive me.

Sometimes, Muslim organisations allow their staff to report early to work (at like 7am) so that they are also able to leave earlier in the evening.

Can I go home already please?

9-5pm: Working

Since we don’t eat lunch, usually we will be able to go off one hour earlier. Or we can choose to take a nap for our lunch break instead, because this one-month routine gets pretty tiring on us!

The physical struggle of hunger, and thirst, is real, and it is supposed to increase our faith in God.

6pm- 8pm: Iftar – breaking fast, where everyone is accounted for at home

Heavily talked about in the community – is the break fast timing, even Bus Uncle, the chatbot which helps you find out what time the bus is coming (in Singlish mind you) is reminding us about this!

This is probably the only month where my family will text and call each other to inform that “it is already time to eat”! LOL. While yes, it is nice to break fast with the most delicious food around, the focus of this time is almost always – Family.

It is pretty sad to see someone to break fast alone, and so, we will check on everyone in our family to ask if they have iftar plans. The natural progression here would then be to have a default family iftar every night. This is why we are always rushing home in the evening.

Our schedule in the evening is as follows:

6pm Die die must reach home at 6pm.6pm -7pm Cook / Set up dinner table / Make sure everyone has food / check attendance7pm Eat with all heads accounted for.8pm Once we’re done eating, we wash up, and we have to do our Maghrib prayers (obligatory prayer after sunset)

If we’re fortunate enough to be working for a predominantly Muslim organisation, they will allow their Muslim staff to leave early from work during Ramadhan to make this 7pm currfew.

Terawih Prayers, which can be done at home or at the mosques, can last up to 20 raka’ats (prayer cycles). But, minimum requirement is 8 raka’at – so I do 8. LOL! Our Schedule for this: 8.30pm – 9.30pm daily (weekends and weekdays)

3am- 5am on the last ten days of Ramadan

As I am writing this, we are in the last 10 nights of Ramadan. This is the time where Muslims will increase their frequency and intensity of prayers for the search of that 1 blessed night – Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power). The promise of Laylatul Qadr is that if you pray on this night, the blessings are far better than even a thousand months of prayers.

So what happens? We do additional prayers on the last third of the night (wee hours of the morning). Some mosques will open their doors to worshippers who want to do these prayers in the mosques around 4am.

Although there’s a heightened level of worship during Ramadan, that’s not all that we do. Since what immediately follows Ramadan is Hari Raya, we make preparations for it during this time too. This is also the time when many of us are engaged in business, (like Bazaar Ramadan all over Singapore) or selling home made kueh for Hari Raya through Instagram or other ways online (like our The Kueh Auditions!)

Sometimes, while it may not be us that is engaged in these extracurricular activities during Ramadan, we may be under direct pressure to help our loving parents to fulfil their extracurricular activities. This special mention goes to all the sons who never fail to help their mums deliver kueh to our house during Hari Raya all over Singapore.

So if you’ve been trying to reach us for work matters, but find that our responses are a bit delayed, at least you now know what we’re up to. We’ll be back to the self (or a better version of ourselves) that you are accustomed to soon enough after Hari Raya!

Let’s be honest – the thought of Hari Raya in just a little more than a week’s time is exciting but also rather daunting and hectic right? Usually, it’s the preparations that make us all go crazy and slightlymonstrous. Apart from cleaning the house, we have to prepare Raya dishes because what is Raya without […]

Let’s be honest – the thought of Hari Raya in just a little more than a week’s time is exciting but also rather daunting and hectic right? Usually, it’s the preparations that make us all go crazy and slightlymonstrous. Apart from cleaning the house, we have to prepare Raya dishes because what is Raya without ketupat, lodeh and rendang, am I right?

Although my mother still doesn’t trust me with the cooking, I have pretty much taken over the Raya preparations at home. From scrubbing of the floors to getting groceries for all the cooking, I have made it a point to ensure that Raya preparations are convenient and fuss-free for me, especially since I do not have help.

Here’s my five tips on hacking Raya preparations so that it may be fun and enjoyable for the young millennial.

Look out for some discounts along with the way, thanks to the FRIENDS Card! (The card that gets you discounts at over 100 halal cafes and restaurants in Singapore now also gets you discounts at online grocers!)

1. Don’t panic! Help is easily accessible!

I was raised in a big family, but now that all my sisters are married and have left the nest, I’m left to fend for myself against the demons of cleaning! To keep myself sane, I get help from a part-time cleaner to do all the scrubbing I don’t want to or do not have time for. Getting an extra hand to assist you in cleaning is something you should not be embarrassed of.

I used Servis Hero the previous time I needed help with fixing my photo frames on the wall, as well as to do some minor maintenance jobs around the house. You can choose from a variety of help you need, from handyman, plumbing and installation, repairs, air condition servicing, and general house cleaning. You can even get to see the variety of quotes from different service companies and you choose the one that’s best for you.

All that time freed up from cleaning up leaves you time for… cooking!

2. First, get your groceries delivered with just a click of a button.

One of the many blessings of technology is that we can get supplies delivered us. I still love my trips to the wet market and supermarket, but one battle I choose not to fight is the part where I have to carry heavy and big items home all by myself.

If you don’t drive and you prefer not to carry these big and heavy items either, you can use online supermarkets and their delivery services for those heavy items like laundry detergents and cleaning items from Redmart. You can even order fish and halal meat online too!

Order fresh seafood from Hai Sia Seafood

Photo courtesy of Hai Sia Seafood

If you’re not a fan of red meat and poultry, get hold of your seafood from Hai Sia so that you won’t have to say “haiyah” when your mother asks you to join her for a trip to the wet market.

They are also probably the only fish supplier with a halal-certification for the cleanliness of the way they handle the seafood!

Hai Sia Seafood Area: Jurong Halal Status: MUIS-Certified
For full address & how to order or where to pick up, click here.

Order your raw cuts of meats MW Impex

Lamb chops

One of the few Muslim-owned and halal certified meat manufacturers in Singapore, MW Impex provides an array of cuts of beef, mutton as well as poultry. You can get hold of their products at leading local supermarkets, but good news for those of you who are lazy like me! They are taking in orders for Raya and they’ll deliver right to your doorstep too.

Chuck tender suitable for rendang

Orders will be delivered by their own freezer trucks. Order via here. Delivery is free for orders above $100.

MW Impex Area: Jurong Halal Status: MUIS-Certified & Muslim-Owned
For full address & how to order or where to pick up, click here.

For quick meals when the guests come, order from Opah Satay

If you’re one who loves a good satay but can’t be bothered to make them from scratch or grill the frozen ones for your first day of Raya, just order in and make your life a lot easier. Your relatives would thank you for serving food other than lontong and rendang.

They offer delivery services and charges range from $5-$11 depending on which part of Singapore you are at.

FRIENDS Discount: Opah Satay offers 5% off the bill for purchases of raw meat made from Tuesday to Thursday. Area: Kaki Bukit Halal Status: MUIS-Certified
For full address & how to order or self-collect, click here.

3. Head to Geylang Serai Wet Market only if necessary

We all have our fond memories of Geylang Serai Wet Market. For me, I have followed my mother for her fortnightly trips there since I was a young girl. I remember eating chendol at the famous Geylang chendol back when it was still the old market – think smelly, rats and dirty. She used to leave me at the chendol stall with $2 while she runs around the market getting things she needed.

While it’s no longer necessary for my mum to get supplies from Geylang Serai regularly anymore, I make it a point to head there about a week before Raya to get fresh produce and ingredients she needs to make ketupat and lepat. It’s always a war zone at pasar Geylang Serai when Raya comes, but I suppose it’s always fun to soak up the atmosphere while getting only the necessary. As our elders say, it’s not Raya if you don’t go to Geylang Serai during Ramadan!

4. Make a conscious effort to #supportlocal this Raya

Recently, there’s been a wave of young Singaporeans taking part in the maker movement where more and more young professionals leave their stable and comfy jobs to make it out on their own. The Maker Movement encourages others to create beautiful crafts, clothes as well as food items instead of purchasing them off the rack from major stores.

Aledya’s drink capsules

If you’d rather serve non-gasy drinks to your guests and can’t really measure to save your life, Aledya’s drink capsules are probably the best substitutes. The capsules come in two flavours – passionfruit and assam lime.

Simply pour out the contents of the capsules and add in ice and water, stirring before you serve. Delicious, healthier and definitely a lot more interesting than your standard fizzes.

You can get it directly from the man who distributes this himself and maybe he’ll give you some tips on how to make extra special drinks with these capsules!

5. Make cooking fun again

There’s many ways to make cooking fun when you’re cooking for friends and family. When I’m in the kitchen, I blast the radio and dance my feet away when my favourite song comes up. For those of you who are beginners in the kitchen, don’t compromise your fun in the kitchen. Have the radio still on, simply use easy to cook with instant pastes and pre-mixes. Every great cook has to begin somewhere.

Batu Lesung Spice Company

The pretty packaging is a sure win for me – but on a serious note, these instant spice pastes are delicious and easy to work with! Refer to their website for some recipe suggestions and make your own alterations along the way. Always remember, there’s no perfect recipe unless it’s perfect to you!

Photo courtesy of Batu Lesung Spice Company

Batu Lesung Spice CompanyFRIENDS Discount: Batu Lesung Spice Company offers 15% off for first time customers Area: Balestier Halal Status: Muslim-Owned
For full address & how to order, click here.

Here’s hoping my recommendations can help you be more stress-free and cool this Raya! Selamat Hari Raya!

Get your FRIENDS with halalfoodhunt.com Rewards Card now at only $18/year and unlock discounts at over 60 halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries including online e-commerce businesses in Singapore. For a full list of where you can enjoy your card, click here.

]]>https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/5-lifehacks-making-hari-raya-preparations-easier/feed/0Halal Zi Char food at a mall and it’s in the West of Singapore *gasp*https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/halal-zi-char-food-mall-west-singapore-gasp/
https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/halal-zi-char-food-mall-west-singapore-gasp/#respondThu, 08 Jun 2017 09:48:32 +0000http://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/?p=5082

When Singaporeans who live in the East think of Halal Zi Char places we think of Chai Chee Seafood, Tang Tea House, and Mak’s Place. However these places are in the east! Poor friends who live in the west. We always get questions to get more coverage of places in the West, so this is […]

When Singaporeans who live in the East think of Halal Zi Char places we think of Chai Chee Seafood, Tang Tea House, and Mak’s Place. However these places are in the east! Poor friends who live in the west. We always get questions to get more coverage of places in the West, so this is for you guys!

Introducing Segar Restaurant, which offers Halal Zi Char dishes at very affordable prices located at Buona Vista’s Star Vista mall. Their portions are also quite generous so this restaurant is definitely value for money. We’ve eaten at Segar Village at Kallang a few times because most of us live in the East but we just had to tell our readers in the West of this place- Segar @ Star Vista and why you should check it out.

First of all, they’re located really near the Buona Vista MRT.

The cherry on top this restaurant is that it’s located in a shopping mall.

The place it’s really clean, comfortably cool. Parking isn’t a headache like streetside zi char places because this mall is quite spacious, not a very crowded heartland mall. For those who who need to travel around in a wheelchair, be assured that there are plenty of lifts and ramps around.

1. Try out their Curry Fish Head as your main dish

As Segar serves authenthic Chinese fare, the fish head curry here follows the Nonya style which is more of a coconut (lemak) flavour and less of the spice, which makes it also really good for the kids! There’s also generous servings of lady’s fingers and tofu skin.

2. Order some Oats Prawn as a side dish

This is a favourite order every time you go to a zhi char place. Segar Restaurant nails this dish. Their Oats Prawn is crispy, salty, and sweet at the same time. It’s very crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside so you have to eat this fresh when they serve you on it’s own! Just bite into the tenderness. Caution though it is a little bit spicy.

3. This Cream Sauce Prawn dish is an absolute must-try!

This is creamy, buttery and sweet. You don’t know whether to eat it on it’s own, or to eat this with rice but this is a must have for your order! It’s good for the kids too because it’s not spicy at all. The only annoying thing is peeling off the shells fast enough to get to the meat! Unless you eat your prawns with shells as well.

4. Another side dish wish is a must-try is their Grandma Salted Egg Sotong.

Before salted egg was a craze, the Segar Restaurant chains had their salted egg figured out, and perfected. This yellow sauce hasthe right balance of sweet and salty, covers crispy fried sotong evenly and there’s still a crunch when you bite into it. This is another dish which you feel like eating on it’s own but it won’t make you full if you do that so you have to eat with rice.

5. You’ll eat your vegetables if it it tastes this yummy- French Bean with Dried Shrimp

Zi char vegetables are a favourite especially. If you usually order kangkong, try this dish once in a while. It goes well with everything else on your plate. The saltiness and crispiness from the fried shrimp complements the salty firm yet juicy french beans. There may be cili padi in the dish but it’s only for flavour. It doesn’t make the dish super spicy that you can’t tahan the heat.

This restaurant is also halal-certified so clear your doubts about this restaurant!

What are you waiting for? The people at Segar Restaurant are waiting for you!

Segar @ Starvista also offers 10% discount off total bill for FRIENDS Cardholders. Not valid with any other promotions or discounts. The FRIENDS Card offers up to 20% discounts at over 100 halal places in Singapore.

Get your FRIENDS with halalfoodhunt.com Rewards Card now at only $18/year and unlock discounts at over 60 halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries including online e-commerce businesses in Singapore. For a full list of where you can enjoy your card, click here.

In recognition of the contributions of our fellow national servicemen for over half a century, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have come together to conduct the NS50 celebrations. The celebrations are dedicated to honouring the past and present contributions of those who have served National Service (NS) and to […]

In recognition of the contributions of our fellow national servicemen for over half a century, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have come together to conduct the NS50 celebrations. The celebrations are dedicated to honouring the past and present contributions of those who have served National Service (NS) and to reinvigorate the nation’s commitment to NS.

The celebrations include the NS50 Showcase, which is held in conjunction with the Army Open House, NS50 Week and month-long promotions from various supporting participants nation-wide to reward the NSmen. MINDEF and MHA will be giving out NS50 Recognition Packages, containing $100 worth of vouchers redeemable at over 200 merchants, in order to facilitate these promotions.

NS50 Safra Voucher SampleNS50 HometeamNS Voucher Sample

Of the 103 participating food and beverage merchants that will be accepting the NS50 SAFRA and HomeTeamNS vouchers, here is a list of 17 of our halal verified merchants from halalfoodhunt.com who are proud to be taking part in this meaningful event!

1. Agrobazaar

Agrobazaar is a retailer of Malaysian products, selected from the 13 different states. The Verandah @ Agrobazaar is their restaurant which plates up signature Malaysian cuisines. A list of recommended dishes are available in our latest article here.

2. GREAThai

GREAThai features an array of Thai dishes on their menu. The bestsellers among the sides are the Thai Stuffed Chicken Wings and crisp Spring Rolls. For mains, there are many must tries but you can also check out their menu recommendations based on what you feel like having that day.

3. AJ Delights

Our favourite muffin lady and man, AJ Delights are also welcoming all NSmen to enjoy their halal-certified muffins. The muffins have 18 flavours and are guaranteed to be soft and fluffy. AJ retails their muffins at affordable prices and they also offer sets of 6 and 12 for those who’d like to share treats with your family, friends or for any occasion.

4. Santaro by Gion

A feast for Japanese cuisine lovers, Santaro by Gion prepares hiqh quality Japanese food, made with authentic home-made sauces and spices and using fresh ingredients. Their value saving items are the daily lunch sets which vary from Udon, Kakiage and even Saba fish.

6. Butterscotch Cafe

Butterscotch is a diverse cafe located at the heart of Bukit Merah Central. Adopting multiple cuisines, Butterscotch brings to life old school favourites with a modern twist like the Ramli Meets Wendy Burger. They also rotate their desserts so there’s always something new to try at Butterscotch.

7. Simply Wrapps

For those seeking a clean and nutritionally balanced diet, Simply Wrapps is you new best friend! They offer 15 refreshing options inspired from cuisines from all over the world, in one wrap or salad bowl. You can also accompany your choice of tasty wraps and salad bowls with cold pressed juices, which we like to refer to as liquid fruits.

8. Charcos “The Flaming Chicken”

Bringing on the heat, we Charcos on our list. Living up to its name, Charcos specialises in Portuguese style chicken from a quarter chicken to whole ones, marinated with over ten types of spices. Apart from their trademark chicken, they also serve mean lamb and beef ribs. This is definitely one of the places to try out for all you meat lovers.

9. Le Bistrot De l’Olive

Marrying two worlds into one, Le Bistrot de L’Olive’s menu offers French and Mediterranean cuisines. You might have tried Mediterranean cuisine out and about Arab St or elsewhere in Singapore but halal French food is quite rare to come across so it’s interesting to have a new alternative for us to check out. If you’re new to French food, click here for a list of recommendations from us.

10. Cornery the Popcorn Gallery

Dubbing themselves as popcorn artists, Cornery brings popcorn to a whole new level with its unique range of savoury and sweet flavours. Aside from the commonCaramel or Butterscotch coating, you can also get Sugar-Crusted White Cheese and Coffee flavours. For those who prefer savoury, there’s also plenty for you to pick from – Kimchi, Tom Yum and even Sour Cream & Onion.

11. T Bob’s Corner

With live bands and steaks, T Bob’s Corner not only delivers on its menu but it also provides the ambience for it too. This two-storey rustic halal Western restaurant can be found in Bedok. It provides ample space for big families and events from birthdays, meetings and more.

12. Muugu Fork

Boasting a selection of Western, Continental and local fare, Muugu Fork is a halal certified restaurant with experience stretching over two decades. Their call to fame is the Ultimate Tenderloin Steak that is char grilled and served with creamy Black Pepper sauce and Ratatouille. They also have options with the trending Raclette cheese so if you haven’t joined the craze yet, try it out here.

13. Paddington House of Pancakes

Special for the sweet-toothed, Paddington House of Pancakes makes beautifully consistent pancakes. Each pancake, crepe, flapjack and pannekoek is light and made well. The coin pancakes are also adorable and great for kids. For the adults, there are various pancakes from different countries like the Pannekoek – a thin, larger Dutch pancake – that comes with flavourful toppings.

Paddington House of PancakesArea: City Square Mall
For full address & opening hours, refer here.

14. The Ramen Stall

A regular feature on our Instagram feed, the Ramen Stall is our go to for soothing, silky ramen with creamy rich broth. The Ramen Stall caters specifically for after work hours so it’s perfect to chill all night with your members.

15. Zulos Dessert Place

Every day at Zulos Dessert Place is a cheat day. Their waffles come stacked with sauces and chocolate chips and chocolate chunks (depending on what you order). But a favourite of mine is actually the churros with white chocolate! The churros come piping hot with a crunchy outside and chewy interior. The Chicken Pie is also really good if you’re looking for something more than just dessert.

16. Jamil Sate Classic

Jamil Sate Classic caters for satay in a variety of styles. If you’d like satay just for yourself, their Mini Bentos are great for personal servings. For health-watchers, you’ll be happy to note that they only use premium lean meat, and pan-grill their satay in olive oil, using less oil than normal. Each order is freshly made with no MSG nor preservatives.

17. Kaw Kaw SG by Makan State

Famous for their burgers with sauces inspired by Malay flavours, like Ayam Percik, and Lemak Cili Padi (Permaisuri Burger), Kaw Kaw is also known for the relaxed ambience you get when you step into the Brooklyn-inspired cafe. They have a wide range of menu is suitable for all kinds of eaters so it doesn’t matter if you are a vegetarian or practicing a gluten-free diet. There is the Pan-Seared Salmon and Tiger Prawn Aglio Olio to tickle your taste buds. There’s also an assortment of burgers to try from the Spicy Bolo burger to the Smoky Beef Bacon burger for something lighter yet equally filling.

Of course, this list is not an exhaustive list of halal places that are part of the NS50 Recognition Package. There are also non food options such as entertainment, travel and shopping that’s available. For all the other places you can go to if you would like to explore non food options, click here.

If you have still yet to find out about the NS50 Recognition Package and whether you’re viable for it, you can also head on to their website for the full details!

(6 June 2017, 2.16pm) Update: Previously Pondok Gurame was on this article but we have received information that they have are not yet accepting NS50 Vouchers.

Featured Image: SingPost

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halalfoodhunt.com is a website listing verified Muslim-owned or Halal Certified food businesses. We started out educating halal foodies on how to know if a food is halal or not when there are no halal certifications. As we received so many enquiries on whether a food business is halal or not, we created halalfoodhunt.com, while letting halal foodies know about the myriad of options open to them! It is a website created and self-funded by local Singaporean Muslims for the Singaporean Muslim community.

If you like what we do, get yourself a FRIENDS Card! The FRIENDS Card allows you to get exclusive deals, invites and savings of between 10-20% at over 60 halal food businesses in Singapore, for only $18/year, including halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries including online e-commerce businesses in Singapore. We want to encourage foodies to explore eating at new halal places.

So if you like what we do and want to support us, get a FRIENDS Card for yourself!

A food connoisseur, Shams’ top picks for iftar to show Prince Harry Singapore through food. This article reflects her personal views. I’m sure you all have heard that Prince Harry is visiting our dear Singapore to participate in a charity polo competition. More importantly, however, for fellow fans of the ginger prince (especially ME), His Royal […]

A food connoisseur, Shams’ top picks for iftar to show Prince Harry Singapore through food. This article reflects her personal views.

I’m sure you all have heard that Prince Harry is visiting our dear Singapore to participate in a charity polo competition. More importantly, however, for fellow fans of the ginger prince (especially ME), His Royal Highness will be taking part in an iftar during his visit here.

Now I’ve been a fan of Prince Harry since forever (he’s only five years older than I am so a girl who grew up watching Disney can dream about being swept off her feet by a non-Muslim prince). My obsession with Rupert Grint during his career as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series further fuelled by fixation on redheads.

Recently however, Prince Harry was rumoured to be dating Suits actress Meghan Markle and I was over the moon! I practically eat live and breathe Suits and *ahem* I was sorta dating Patrick J Adams. For one night. Okay fine I didn’t date him, I simply appeared on his Instagram feed during a Suits premiere event here in Singapore. But hey! Another similarity between me and Prince Harry!

We’ve been trying to interrogate our sources for Prince Harry’s arrival but none of them have spilled the beans yet so I shall continue stuffing them with kueh raya until they speak. In the mean time, besides sampling Jasmine tea bonbons, dearest His Royal Highness Prince of Wales aka Prince Harry, allow me to show you the world through food that’s best for your iftar date with me session with local Muslims.

1. Segar Village

Who can resist the delicious zi char that Segar restaurant offers? Salted egg yolk squid, chilli crab and cereal prawns are more than enough to tempt His Royal Highness to have a date with me. Plus, we could head down to Geylang for some durian right after!

2. Saltwater

I’m pretty sure Prince Harry would enjoy the local flavours at Saltwater like laksa, pengat durian and especially the wide array of grilled meat and seafood part of their Ramadan menu. I mean, why Netflix & Chill when you can Chill & Grill?

3. Kucina Italian Restaurant

I’ve said this plenty of times, but Kucina is the go-to restaurant for halal authentic Italian cuisine. Try their handmade gnocchi and freshly made pizzas to reignite your love for Prince Harry, I mean, Italian food.

4. Haron Satay

What is Singapore without satay, am I right? Voted as the best satay in town during last year’s inaugural Satay Challenge, Harun Satay serves up a mean plate of beef and chicken satay spiced to perfection. A long breezy walk by the beach would be perfect to end the night too.

5. Teh Bhai at Kampung Glam

Not exactly the ideal place for an iftar date but I’m sure Prince Harry would like to soak up the atmosphere of Bussorah Street and join the throngs of people lepaking at Teh Bhai after their terawih prayers. It would also be a great place for Prince Harry and I to debut our #shipgoals.

6. Pondok Gurame

If Prince Harry still wishes to have a romantic evening with *ahem* me (and the accompanying entourage of course), we can always head to Pondok Gurame to soak up some quiet alfresco dining by the pool. Rather than singing the catchy Gurame tune at the end of the meal, I’d rather Prince Harry be singing my name instead.

Not gonna lie…

But His Royal Highness Prince Harry and I would make very beautiful babies.

Well, a girl can just continue to dream.

(I’m fasting, I’m fasting, I’m fasting)

This article was written after Sham had broken her fast. The views reflect her personal views and not of halalfoodhunt.com as a whole. If you are looking for a way to express your desires (especially about food) in a halal way, write in to hello@halalfoodhunt.com, we’re looking for more writers. Till then, Ramadan Kareem everyone!

Get your FRIENDS with halalfoodhunt.com Rewards Card now at only $18/year and unlock discounts at over 60 halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries including online e-commerce businesses in Singapore. For a full list of where you can enjoy your card, click here.

]]>https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/6-places-singapore-id-like-suggest-prince-harry-iftar-thats-okay/feed/0The Supper Club List: 7 places to go for a quick refreshment after prayershttps://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/the-supper-club-list-7-places-to-go-for-a-quick-refreshment-after-prayers/
https://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/the-supper-club-list-7-places-to-go-for-a-quick-refreshment-after-prayers/#respondTue, 30 May 2017 12:36:38 +0000http://sifted.halalfoodhunt.com/?p=4981

Here is a list of places to go for after-terawih gatherings with your close friends so that you can catch your prayers and still, squeeze in time for a quick meet up with your old time buddies. This article is brought to you by Hyde & Co. Hyde &Co. brings to you after-terawih hangouts so that you can get the […]

Here is a list of places to go for after-terawih gatherings with your close friends so that you can catch your prayers and still, squeeze in time for a quick meet up with your old time buddies. This article is brought to you by Hyde & Co. Hyde &Co. brings to you after-terawih hangouts so that you can get the best of Ramadan in both spiritual and physical relationships.

Ramadan has always been well known as a blessed month for the Muslims. Apart from developing a deeper relationship with God, Ramadan is also a time for us to improve our relationships with other people. It is the month where we seek forgiveness for past mistakes, race with one another to ensure that our neighbours and the less fortunate have food to eat and to collectively, practice more good deeds.

It’s a time for not just cleansing of the spirit and the body – in terms of being more mindful of the words we speak and controlling our base desires and in terms of health, reducing the consumption of unhealthy food, it is also when we seek reconciliation and forgiveness for intentional or unintentional past hurts amongst one another.

Fittingly, this is also why many Muslims also make time to iftar together with friends and other communities to help facilitate bonding and foster new relationships. It is a time where our non-Muslim friends get to share part of the experience with us and have educational discussions about Ramadan and for us to rejuvenate our existing friendships.

However as we have terawih prayers, it can be tough to slot in time for gatherings so to enable you to benefit from both, we have gathered a list of places that are open until late so that you can manage it better.

For 29 May to 23 June 2017, Hyde & Co is well prepped to receive you with open arms all the way until 11pm from Monday to Saturdays! With Masjid Sultan and Masjid Malabar within walking distance, you have plenty of time to complete your prayers before making your way down to Hyde & Co. to meet up with your friends for desserts.

Take your pick of desserts at Hyde & Co.!

Desserts range from cakes like Apple Crumble, Salted Caramel, Moist Chocolate Cake and more. They are also available on a daily rotational basis so you can call in to 66355785 in advance to find out what they have that day!

Unicorn Dreams at Hyde & Co.

New on their menu is the Unicorn Dreams, a whimsical creation of Buttermilk Waffles with Banana Brulee, Buttered Popcorn and Summer Berries Ice Cream. For a nostalgic finishing touch, Hyde & Co. has also brought back childhood memories with a drizzle of “Paddlepop” fondue to brighten up this beautiful dessert.

Hyde’s Kaya Toast

If unicorn dreams are not your kind of thing, there is also the trusty Hyde’s Kaya Toast for a signature comforting dessert.

2. Split the feast with a friend for supper at T Bob’s Corner

For those who usually can’t eat much right during Iftar, you might hear your stomach start grumbling after prayers. If you’d like to eat a bit more to calm it down a bit but would prefer to share, T Bob’s Cranberry Briyani is great for splitting between friends. The Cranberry Briyani platter for two is priced at $42 and comes with kacang pool, two katira drinks, a dessert and kunafa cheese. It is served with a choice of Lamb Shank, Beef Rib, or Chicken.

The platter is recommended for those who usually break fast on dates and not much else because you’re uncomfortable eating on an empty stomach, so you can fill up on this satisfying meal after prayers. On the other hand, if you’re hungry but don’t think you can eat that much, there’s always the option to share it between a group of friends so you can chat and take your fill leisurely.

On a side note, we hear they will be at Bussorah Street’s Ramadhan Bazaar this year so for those who’d like to have their infamous Beef Ribs, Lamb Shank, and Lamb Shoulder to enjoy with family, you can visit them there.

Closest Mosque / Musollah: Masjid Ansar. Prayer space is also available on the 2nd floor of T Bob’s Corner.

After shopping for clothes and new items to decorate your home for Raya, catch Iftar at Kucian Italian. Walk in early, in time for the first round of seats and order by 7pm or if you’re planning to come by after Maghrib at Darul Arqam’s surau, there is a second seating at 8.30pm.

Pasta at Kucina ItalianDessert Platter at Kucina Italian

We recommend making reservations through their FaceBook’s book now button. The restaurant has also revamped their menu to include Antipasto, Truffle Pasta, Homemade Tortellini and Ravioli, New White Pizzas, Chef Pizza, Calzone and the new dessert platter. They have also extended their gelato list, of which we have raved about the durian one before here (the Pistachio is really good too).

4. Refresh yourself with Segar Village’s halal zichar menu

Live Seafood at Segar Village

Alternatively, we also share a love for other signature Singaporean cuisines that our friends eat like Chinese and Indian food so it’s great that Segar Village serves up halal Zichar dishes. The have the classic range of live seafood from fish, sotong and crab to the accompanying side dishes of vegetables, soups and omelettes.

The seafood are cooked in various styles – from Hong Kong Steamed, the sweet and sour to deep fried styled for the fish and likewise for each type of seafood on their menu. For the full extensive menu, you can view it here.

They also have a compilation of different sets consisting of barbecued items, a mix of local dishes and more available for viewing here. Best of all, they are open until 11.30pm everyday with the last order at 11pm.

Closest Mosque: Not Available. We recommend heading there after terawih.

5. Brothers in Fine Food

Open up until 11pm, Brothers in Fine Food is a fine place to chill and eat for Iftar or even after terawih. They are going all out with a special menu for the first week of Iftar that will feature up to 18 distinct items, including the house favourites. A full buffet comes at the price of $38.

Soft Shell Crab from Brothers in Fine FoodSirloin with Beetroot Puree from Brothers in Fine Food

Some of the tantalising plates featured for this buffet are the Soft Shell Crab with Thai Red Curry, the trademark Dry Aged Roasted Sirloin served with Beetroot Thyme Puree and the desserts are also as intricate. There is the Lebanese Milk Rice Pudding with Rose Blossoms and Pistachio, Churros with Salted Caramel and Liquid Cheesecake dips and plenty more. Even though it is a moderately sized buffet, the items are well worth the price and each is carefully constructed and flavourful.

6. Go Kaw Kaw Sg with their mega Ramadan burger specials

Kaw Kaw Sg normally operates at Aliwal St but special to 2017, they have extended their reach and can now be found at the Geylang Bazaar. Whipping up two giant burgers fit to keep you full all through the night and even probably through Sahur, Kaw Kaw’s Ramadan Menu features the Sambal Burg and Sweet and Sour Fish Burger.

We recommend the Sambal burg for after terawih because it has quite a kick and it might be a little rough on the stomach for Sahur and right during Iftar. You can get your burger at Kaw Kaw SG at Aliwal St itself from 4.30pm onwards – last orders at 9.30pm or you can get it from Geylang Bazaar from 4pm to 11pm for takeaway if you plan to hang out at someone’s house or another place.

If you’re planning to dine in at Kaw Kaw SG on a weekday, remember to flash your FRIENDS Card for the customary 10% off plus they’re also offering every second pitcher set for five pax free for FRIENDS Card holders. The first pitcher set comes at $6.90 and flavours are updated weekly on their Instagram @kawkawsg every Sunday night.

7. Chill out and about over a tower of drinks (quite literally) at Srisun Express

The usual vast menus of North and South Indian cuisine are open 24/7 as always at our ever reliable Srisun Express. This is the local chill out and about place that you can go to anytime, anywhere. They have a dozen over different types of pratas from coin sets for kids, complete with Yakult and watermelon slice and fluffy naans.

Their drinks towers are the bomb so you can sip and chill for as long as you want after your terawih session with your members. Srisun Express will give you 50% off any $12 or $13 drink towers for customers who quote HFH and FRIENDS Card holders can get an additional 50% off any large order of the following sides: fries, cheese fries, masala fries, wedges and cheese wedges.

This article was sponsored by Hyde & Co.
Hyde & Co serves a delectable and tasty desserts that are now available for Iftar and after terawih. They are halal-certified by MUIS.

Hyde & Co. is located at 785 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198753. For more information like contact details and opening hours, refer here. Enjoy 10% off with the promo code: IFTARHYDEOUT when you pre-order for pick-up here.

Get your FRIENDS with halalfoodhunt.com Rewards Card now at only $18/year and unlock discounts at over 60 halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries including online e-commerce businesses in Singapore. For a full list of where you can enjoy your card, click here.